Just Stop Oil activists free after ‘unprecedented disruption' plan at Heathrow

Activists, said to be participating as part of a wider international campaign, were found with angle grinders and glue and arrested at the airport on Wednesday July 24 last year.
The nine activists appearing at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday were sentenced for conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
The defendants had either already served the time they were sentenced to or were handed suspended sentences.
Judge Hannah Duncan said: 'No breach of the perimeter fence occurred. No disruption at all occurred. No actual harm was caused.'
The court heard that seven individuals in two separate groups were stopped by police close to the perimeter fence at Heathrow Airport at around 9am on the day of the incident.
Emma Fielding, prosecuting, said they arrived at the airport carrying rucksacks.
Items found included angle grinders, safety glasses, high-visibility orange vests, super glue, cable ties, and ear plugs or ear defenders.
'The Crown's case in relation to those defendants is that they were intending to cut their way through the perimeter fence in the two separate groups so to make two separate cut points in the fence, and to enter the airport,' Ms Fielding said.
She added that the defendants 'entered into a plan to cause unprecedented disruption to Heathrow Airport' and it was an action that was part of a wider international campaign known as Roads to Runways.
Ms Fielding said the group were planning to go on to a taxiway if they had the opportunity to do so and to use the glue or cable ties to attach themselves to one another or to objects on the ground.
The trial was held at Isleworth Crown Court, London (PA)
The prosecutor said they intended that their actions would cause Heathrow Airport to 'come to a standstill'.
The nine defendants appearing at Isleworth Crown Court were Sally Davidson, 37, Adam Beard, 56, Luke Elson, 32, Luke Watson, 35, Sean O'Callaghan, 30, Hannah Schafer, 61, Rosa Hicks, 29, William Goldring, 27, and Rory Wilson, 26.
Wilson pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
All of the defendants, except Schafer and Wilson, were ordered to pay £2,000 each towards the costs of the trial.
– Wilson, of Addison Road, Guildford, was sentenced to 10 months and he has already served the term required
– Watson, of The Street, Manuden, Essex, was sentenced to 15 months and he has already served the term required
– Elson, of Bundocks Walk, London, was sentenced to 12 months and he has served in excess of the term required
– Beard, of Stanton Road, Stroud, was sentenced to 12 months and has already served the term required
– O'Callaghan, of Old London Road, Mickleham, Surrey, was sentenced to 11 months suspended for two years plus 120 hours of unpaid work
– Davidson, of Easton Street, Portland, Dorset, and Schafer, of Tanygroes, Ceredigion, were sentenced to 12 months suspended for two years plus 180 hours of unpaid work
– Hicks, of Wharf Hill, Winchester, was sentenced to 15 months and she has already served the time required
– Goldring, of Drayton Road, London, was sentenced to 15 months suspended for two years plus 150 hours of unpaid work
It was clear that airports were going to be the target for climate protesters in 2024, Judge Duncan said in her sentencing remarks.
She said meetings and recruitment drives took place.
'The phrase 'unprecedented disruption' featured in the promotion and explanation for this campaign. The assertion by some of you during the trial that this is nothing but hyperbole and only minor disruption was the aim is dishonest and disingenuous,' the judge said.
Judge Duncan told the defendants they treated their trial as an 'extension of the protest', adding: 'A courtroom is not a street or a town square, and it is run at considerable cost.
'It's where allegations of crimes are tried, where often the most vulnerable people in society find themselves as defendants or as witnesses.
'Victims of crime sadly have to wait a long time for their cases to be heard, to receive justice for the wrongs that have been done to them before they can move on.
'There are women and children who have been abused, sexually assaulted or raped who are waiting for courtrooms.
'You used one for seven weeks.
'Some of you dragging it out as much as you could at every opportunity, lying about your actions and intentions that day all to get more publicity.
'It does not add a single day to your sentence but it demonstrates your lack of remorse until now and it exposes the lie of accountability.'
Raj Chada, head of criminal defence at Hodge Jones & Allen, who mitigated at the sentencing, said: 'It is only right that none of these defendants will face any further time in prison.
'There was no actual disruption in this case.
'The defendants acted to highlight the real threat to our humanity, and our clients seek action to prevent that catastrophe.'
Chief Superintendent Ian Howells, from the Metropolitan Police's Aviation Policing Command, said: 'Last year, Just Stop Oil threatened a summer of disruption and the Met worked with police forces across the country to make sure this didn't happen and that no members of the public were put at risk as a result of their activity.
'The reckless actions of this particular group would have not only put their own lives and the lives of others in danger, but caused havoc at Heathrow Airport, bringing flights to a standstill.
'There is a clear distinction between peaceful protest and the criminal activity that this group sought to carry out.
'This kind of action will not be tolerated and the Met will continue to work with all our partners to protect the public, prevent disruption to Londoners and those visiting our city and bring offenders to justice.
'Today's result is a clear example of this, and a reminder to anyone tempted to carry out similar actions that they will face the full force of the law.'

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Record

3 days ago

• Daily Record

Mum sobs 'I'm sorry' as £200k swindle exposed after she goes on holiday

Rachel Wilson was jailed after stealing over £200,000 from her employer to fund her husband's drug addiction. A sobbing mum-of-two said 'I'm sorry' to her children in court as she was jailed for stealing more than £200,000 from her employer over four years to fund her husband's drug addiction. Rachel Wilson, 43, from Southport, was sentenced to two years and two months behind bars after admitting fraud by abuse of position. The court heard how the trusted head cashier at Liverpool Legal Services Ltd began siphoning off money during the height of the pandemic. ‌ Wilson, who had worked at the firm for over a decade, carried out a sophisticated swindle—funnelling thousands into her personal bank accounts disguised as payments to fake consultants and forging cheques for office expenses like postage and furniture, reports the Mirror. ‌ The fraud unravelled when a colleague spotted irregularities while Wilson was on holiday in August last year. In total, she stole over £209,000 between April 2020 and August 2023. Liverpool Crown Court was told Wilson used the stolen money to support her husband's spiralling drug habit, insisting she saw 'no way out' at the time. She confessed during a disciplinary meeting in September 2024 and later repeated her admissions to police. She had no prior convictions. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. In court, Wilson wept as she looked towards her father and adult son in the public gallery, repeatedly saying: 'I'm sorry.' Her son replied, 'Don't be sorry. Love you, Mum,' while her father blew her a kiss as she was led to the cells. Her defence solicitor, Lloyd Morgan, said Wilson was deeply remorseful and described her as a woman under extreme pressure, with no financial gain or lavish lifestyle to show for the theft. 'She felt trapped,' he said. 'There are no assets. This was not your typical fraud case. She's now receiving treatment for anxiety and depression and is engaging in therapy.' Sentencing, Recorder Mark Ainsworth said: 'You were in a trusted position for many years. This was a sustained abuse of trust, and the impact on the company has been significant. But I also acknowledge your early admissions and personal circumstances.'

Glasgow Times

5 days ago

• Glasgow Times

Prosecutors are after Glasgow gangland figure over flouting order

Convicted drug trafficker Fergus Smith had been hit with a 'super-Asbo' in 2019 following being jailed for money laundering in 2019. One rule of the strict order - designed to tackle and restrict criminals on their release from prison - was that the now 43 year-old had to declare any income of £10,000 or above. But, during a probe into his finances, it emerged Smith had £16,486 sitting in his Paddy Power account. In total, Smith - a reported associate of the notorious Daniel crime clan - had £55,000 of "income from various sources" that he had kept quiet about. Smith was jailed for 13 months in February after he pleaded guilty to breaching the Serious Crime Prevention Order (SCPO) and possessing criminal property. Smith appeared back in the dock today at Glasgow Sheriff Court for a confiscation hearing. He was handed a statement of information by a police officer which stated that the Crown are seeking £326,000 from him. Smith was also ordered to present to the court of any finances which he has currently available to him. The matter has been adjourned until August for this to be done. READ NEXT: Man admits murdering 21-year-old partner Phoenix Spencer Horn in East Kilbride READ NEXT: Court hears how much delivery driver made for involvement in drug dealing READ NEXT: Details emerge on case against man accused of Brodie MacGregor murder in Glasgow Smith was previously locked up for 10 months after being caught with £15,000 of dirty money at his then home in the city's Bridgeton. A three-year SCPO was then imposed on him in October 2019. Smith had to inform the police with 48 hours of any sources of income from work, benefits or rental of any properties. He assured the authorities that he would notify of any changes. A probe was sparked, however, when it emerged Smith had a purchase agreement on a sporty Audi S3 car in June 2020. A check revealed he had no self-declared income. A warrant was then sought to investigate Smith's bank transactions between late 2019 and October 2021. Fiscal Darren Harty said: "The statement showed that Smith had outgoings of £70,831 and an income from various sources totalling £55,000 none of which was notified to police. "A total of £16,486 was received from the account of Paddy Power. "This was from 50 deposits from the Paddy Power account ranging from £62.50 to £1,320.85." There statement also revealed a near £4,000 payment from car dealer Arnold Clark, seven amounts totalling £10,300 from an accident repair firm called 'Raltec Paisley' as well as £25,000 in cash deposits via the Post Office. Smith, of the city's Mount Vernon, was arrested in December 2021 and replied 'no" to each accusation put to him. Thomas Ross KC, defending, told a previous hearing: 'He was well aware that with the terms of the order it would be open for the police to gain access to his Santander bank account to see if he complied. 'In a way, it was inevitable that he would be caught with the money from his employment. 'In terms of the other charge, I wasn't in a position to explain anything with a substantial defence. 'It was in his bank account and it was through that police found out about the offences and he was prosecuted. 'He had been doing a course working on railways when the network is down at two and three in the morning and access is gained by ropes. 'He did this work in January and February when drug dealers would be in their beds - if he has money from illegal means he would not be out cleaning the railways.' (Image: Kevin Gerbil Carroll) In 2008, Smith was one of 17 members of a gang given sentences totalling more than 100 years at Liverpool Crown Court for planning to flood Scotland with cocaine. He is also said to be an associate of shamed ex-soldier Martyn Fitzsimmons - locked up in 2018 for his links to organised crime. Smith was a former friend of Daniel clan enforcer Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll, who was shot dead in an Asda car park in Robroyston, Glasgow, in 2010.

Spectator

5 days ago

• Spectator

Ex-Tory MP pleads guilty to harassment

To Cardiff, where a former Conservative politician has pleaded guilty to harassing their ex-wife. Katie Wallis, formerly Jamie Wallis who represented Bridgend from 2019-2024, today admitted to sending unwanted messages both over the phone and via voice note and will be sentenced next month. Wallis had been in a relationship with ex-wife Rebecca Lovell for over 15 years, before divorcing in 2024. The 41-year-old former politician – who became the UK's first transgender MP in 2022 – had lawyer Narita Bahra KC agree an eleventh-hour deal with the prosecution for a guilty plea, after first applying for an adjournment for a psychiatric report to show Wallis had experienced a 'psychotic breakdown' during the police interview. The barrister also claimed that this period of harassment coincided with Wallis's transitioning and that the ex-MP had been dealing with gender dysphoria-related mental health issues. Bahra claimed that Wallis's mental health had 'spiralled' and added that the politician's ex-wife 'did not want to Dr Wallis to come out full-time as transgender'. For Lovell's part, the prosecution noted that: The Crown will say that following the victim informing the defendant of a new relationship the defendant's behaviour has become harassing in nature. The frequency, nature, and contents of the messages and voicemails amounted to harassment of the victim. Despite being arrested on 28 February and released on police bail the defendant has continued to send messages to the victim. Indeed, after speaking to the prosecutor, Bahra concluded Wallis had listened to Lovell's case, taken a 'very pragmatic view' and chosen to plead guilty. This isn't Wallis's first run-in with the law. In 2022, the former Bridgend politician was fined £2,500 – as well as being ordered to pay £260 in prosecution costs plus a £190 victim services charge – when she was found guilty of failing to report an accident and leaving a vehicle in a dangerous position after crashing her Mercedes into a telegraph pole in 2021. In their eight-page Party Review into the 2024 election, the Tories say they want better candidates next time. If the rest are anything like Wallis, you can see why…